Bottle-capping machine.



F. B. SGHUSTER.

BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE15 1911 Patented May 6, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 F. B. SGHUSTER. BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIONIILBD JUNE 15, 1911.

1,060,948. Patented May 6, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 rears enrich.

FRANK B. soHUs'rER, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS,

TO SANITARY DAIRY MACHINE COMPANY, me, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A con-PORATION OF NEW YORK.

IBOTTLE-CAPPING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May e, 1913.

Application filed June 15, 1911. Serial No. 633,248. 1

To all wit-0711, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK B. SoHUs'rER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented a new and useful lIYlDI'OVQHlIlt in Bottle-Capping Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bottle capping machines which are employed forplacing paper disks or caps in milk bottles.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce an efficient,practical machine which is of simple and inexpensive construction andwhich can be easily operated to rapidly cap the bottles and preferablyto simultaneously cap a plurality of bottles.

Other objects of the invention are to construct the machine so that itcan be operated to cap the bottles while they are contained in theordinary carrying case or crate, and so that the capping devices willadjust themselves automatically to bottles of dif ferent heights andwhich may be located in slightly different positions in the cases; alsoto provide means for bracing or supporting the bottom of the ease orcrate while'the caps are being forced into the mouths of the bottles;also to provide the machine with convenient and reliable means of simpleconstruction for supplying the caps to the capping device which placesthem in the bottles; also to so construct and arrange the parts that themachine can be operated by a relatively short throw of the operatingcrank or lever; and also to improve bottle capping machines in therespects hereinafter described and-set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets: Figurel is aside elevation, partly in section, of a bottle cappingmachine embodyingthe invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation thereof,showing the capping device in position to place the caps on the'bottles.Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, showing the mechanism foractuating the capping device. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation, on anenlarged scale, of the capping device. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rearelevation of the machine. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section of one of thecap containers. Fig, 7 is a plan view of the machine.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

The frame A of the machine may be of any suitable construction and ispreferably provided with a front portion forming a support a on whichthe cases containing the milk bottles are placed, and with a rearupright portion a which extends above the support for the cases.

B represents the milk bottles and b the case or crate therefor which isprovided with the usual cross-wire bottom I). The caps are placed in thebottles without removing them from the cases which are placed onsuitable guide bars C secured on the front portion of the frame Abetween which bars the case is held in position while the bottles arebeing capped.

1) represents the cap magazines or con tainers; One of these magazinesis pro.- vided for each of the bottles and they are arranged in a groupand are spaced apart from center to center substantially the samedistance as the bottles in the cases. The magazines pass through holesin and are held by a support or plate d which rests on supporting barscl" secured to. the. frame A of the machine, and an additional spacingplate d may be provided to hold theupper ends of the magazines in theirproperposi- The magazontally on the supporting bars cl toward andfromthe sup-port for the cases of milk bottles for a purpose which; willbe explained. Any other means for holding the magazines may be employedif desired, and any numberof magazines can be used, depending upon thenumber of ,bottles which it is desired to cap at one time. Twelve ofthese magazines are preferably employed,

capped at one time. The cap magazines consist of upright open-endedcylindrical tubes of a suitable size to receive tubular cartons orcontainers E in which the bottle so that a case of a dozen bottles canbe\ caps e are usually packed for shipment by the manufacturers. Themagazines are open at both ends and a carton is inserted into eachmagazine and is held therein by a suitable sleeve or bushing e. Thelower por- ,tions of these sleeves'are of suitable diameter to heslipped on and fittightly on the endsof the cartons. The upper portionof the sleeve is provided with an outwardly extending shoulder or flangee which rests on the top edge of the cap magazine D when the sleeve isin place in the magazine. The

upper face of the shoulder is made tapering and is provided with arubber or other suitable gasket or washer e which is retained in a seatin the tapered face. Spring clips or holders 6 may be provided in thesleeve 6' which offer a slight resistance to the removal of the capsfrom the cartons and thereby 10 prevent the removal of more than one capat a time in case the second cap from'the top should adhere to theuppermost cap.

After one end of a carton has been inserted into the sleeve 6, the capsare pushed upwardly into the sleeve and a follower e is inserted. intothe bottom of the carton so that the caps in the carton rest on thefol-- lower, which is movable lengthwise in the carton. This followercan be a hollow rubher ball, or it can be of any other shape and made ofany light and compressible material adapting it to engage the walls ofthe carton with sufficient friction to support the stack of caps, or itcan be otherwise movably supported in the carton. As the caps areremoved from the magazine one after another, the follower is movedupwardly in the magazine, as hereinafter explained, so as to always keepthe top cap of the stack at the top of the magazine.

The cap magazines are preferably made of the construction described,since the caps for the milk bottles are commonly packed in tubular papercartons, and by using the cartons in the manner described, the capmagazines can be easily filled. The invention is not, however, limitedto the. use of this type of cap magazine. The magazinescould, forexample, consist simply of the 40 tubes D, the caps being placeddirectly therein, in which case the follower 6 would engage with thewalls of the magazine tube D.

F represents a capping device which is movably mounted on the uprightrear portion a of the frame so as to swing from the position shown inFig. 1, over the cap magazines, to a position shown in Fig. 2, and hasprovisionfor taking the caps from the magazines and carrying them to thebotties in the case. The capping device (see Fig. 4) preferablycomprising a horizontal chambered suction head f from which depends agroup of open-ended capping tubes 5 7 corresponding in number andarrangement to the cap magazines D. The capping tubes are slidablevertically in guide bearings f on the suction head and communicate attheir upper ends with the suction g chamber in the head. Springs 7,which surround the tubes between collars f at their lower ends and thetube bearings, normally press downwardly and hold the flanged up perends of the tubes against suitable pack- 5 ing rings surrounding theupper ends of the tubes to prevent the leakage of air through the tubebearings. Each capping tube carries at its lower end a flaring bottleguide and holder G which is slidably mounted on the lower end of the.tube and is normally pressed downwardly on the tube by a second spring 9surrounding the tube between the suction head and the bottle guide orholder.

The suction head is preferably pivoted at eachof its opposite ends to apair of lovers H H which are fulcrumed between their ends respectivelyat h h on the upright rear portion a of the frame of the machine. Eachpair of these levers has arms extending at an angle to the arms to whichthe suction head is pivoted and which are joined by links 71, to causethe levers to swing togethr and always hold the capping device upright.The means shown for moving the 35 capping device back and forth fromthecap magazines to the bottles comprises a series of levers and linkswhich are actuated by a rock-shaft I journaled in the frame a of themachine. Arms 2' are rigidly secured'to the rock shaft I adjacent to thesides of the machine and their ends are pivotally connected by links 2"to levers 2' intermediate of the ends thereof. These levers '5 may be ofany suitable shape, those shown being curved. ()ne end of each ofthecurved levers i is pivoted on the frame of the machine and the other endis pivotally connected by a link i to the lever H. Thus by oscillatingthe rock-shaft I, the levers i shift the capping device from one of itspositions to the other. i

The turning or oscillating of the rockshaft I is eflected by thefollowing mechanism: An arm K. is rigidly secured 5 at one end of therock-shaft I and the end of this arm is pivotally connected to one endof a bent lever 70 by a link 7a.. The other end of the lever is ispivoted to the frame of the machine and a link 70 is pivoted to thislever intermediate of the ends thereof and to the short arm of a handlever 70 The hand lever is pivoted at 70 to the frame of the machine andthe long arm thereof is adapted to be drawn toward and 1 5 from thefrontof the machine by the operator, whereby the rock-shaft I is turnedthrough an angle sufiicient to move the capping device from themagazines to the bottles. 1

The suction head of the capping device may be connected to a suctionpump or device (not shown) for exhausting the air from the suction headand cappingtubes, in any suitable manner which will permit the describedmotion of the capping device. A jointed folding pipe connection is shownfor this purpose comprising a pipe M which is swiveled to a pipe 112.connected with the suction pump or device and a pipe 711/ arnoeoeeeranged perpendicularly thereto and swiveled to pipes m which in turn areswiveled to a connection m on the suction head. By means of theseconnections,.suction can be transmitted from the pipe m to the suctionchamber of the capping device F, the pipes assuming positions shown inFigs. 1 and 2 when the capping device is in a position over the capmagazines and over the bottles, respectively.

The pipe m is provided with a valve N of any suitable sort, which may beoperated to connect the suction head'with the pump so that the suctiontubes will take the caps from the magazines and carry them to thebottles, and for disconnecting the suction head from the pump to releasethe caps from the suction tubes when they are placed on the bottles. Thevalve N is connected by a link 71. to one arm of a lever n, which ispivoted on the frame of the machine. The ends of two links a n arepivoted to the opposite arms of the lever n and the other ends of theselevers are provided with longitudinal slots in which pins or bolts n n,

which are secured respectively to the links k and t, slidably engage.WVhen the capping device is moved to the position over the magazines,shown in Fig. l, the pin a engages with the end of the slot in the linka and shifts the levern' to move the link n upwardly and open the valveN, and when the capping device is moved to the position over thebottles, shown in Fig. 2, the pin n engages with the end. of the slot inthe link 12. and the lever 11/ is thereby shifted to move the link ndownwardly and close the valve N. The suction tubes then release thecaps, which are pressed into the cap-retaining lips of the bottles. Anyother suitable suction connections and controlling means therefor couldbe used.

In order to rigidly support the bottles when the caps are being forcedtherein and prevent the downward pressure of the capping device on thebottles frombreaking or bending the bottom Wires of '*the crate, amovable suppor plunger or'plate L is prd vided which is mounted in theframe of the machine between the bars C, which support the crates, andis adapted to be moved toward and from the bottom of the crates. Theplunger is suitably guided in the frame of the machine, for instance, bydepending guide strips Z secured to the plungerI The plunger isconnected by links Z'" to' levers Z between the ends thereof. Theselevers are pivoted at one end to the frame of the machine and theirother ends are adapted to be engaged by links Z which are pivoted to thearm 2' of the operating mechanism for ger L will also be raised tosupport the bottom of the crate. The plunger is adapted to enter betweenthe side walls of the crate and bear directly against the bottom wiresand thereby straightenthe bottom of the case and cause each of thebottles to assume a vertical position. The plunger is preferablyarranged to raise the crate slightly above the supporting bars C, which,owing to the pivotal connection between the plunger and the links Z,enables the crate and plunger to be easily tilted to guide the mouths ofthe bottles into the flaring bottle guides G. By means of a slottedconnection Z between the lever Z and the link Z the arm 2' may have alimited upward movement before moving the plunger upwardly,

for instance the upward movement of the plunger may be made to commenceafter the capping device begins to move. down-. wardly, so thatpractically no effort on the part of the operator is required to raisethe plunger. Any other suitable means for sup porting the bottom of thecrates could be used, if desired.

The operation of the machine is as follows: A case or crate with themilk bottles therein is placed on the guide bars C and the operator thenturns the crank to move the capping device F over to the cap magazineswith the capping tubes bearing on the top of the stacks-of caps in themagazines, as shown in Fig. 1 The pin 11, engages in the end of the slotin the link a just before the capping tubes engage the caps in themagazines, and shifts the valve N so as to connect the suction head withthe suction pump or device. The uppermost caps in the magazines arecaused to cling to the ends of the capping tubes by the suction, and theoperator then turns the crank to carry the capping device with thecapscarried thereby. over the bottles. During the last portion of themovement of the capping device toward the bottles, the caps are forcedinto the mouths of the bottles by the capping tubes and the pin aengages in the .end of the slot 91 thereby shifting the valve N so as todisconnect thesuction head from the pump and connect it with theatmosphere, thereby breaking the suction and releasing the caps from thecapping tubes so that when the capping device is again moved away fromthe bottles, the caps will be held in place in the bottles by thecapretaining lips of the bottles. The suction through the cappingtubes-when the bottle guides G bear on the cap magazines, lifts thestacks of caps and the followersc in the magazines untilthe uppermostcaps engage the ends of the capping tubes, and when the capping deviceleaves the magazine, the followers are retained in the position to whichthey are lifted by the friction between the followers and the walls ofthe magazines.

Thus the stack of caps in each magazine is raised slightly each time acap is w1thdrawn from the magazine, and the tops of the stacks are keptalwaysat the tops of the magazines, and no feed mechanism is requiredfor raising the stacks in the magazinesas they are depleted.

If the bottles are located in the case so that they are not directlyunder the cap ping tubes as the latter approach the bottles, the flaringbottle guides or holders G, engaging the upper ends of the bottles, willshift the bottles in the case and center them exactly under the cappingtubes. The capping tubes and bottle guides are both adapted to yield sothat the correct operation of the machine will not be defeated by reasonof a variation in the height of the bottles, which frequently occurs inbottles of ditferent makes.

By providing a. supporting plunger L, the bottoms of the crates aresupported in such a manner as to prevent injury thereto ifthe operatorshould force the capping device down upon the bottles with excessivepressure. When the capping operation is completed, the plunger iswithdrawn from the bottom of the crate to a position where it does notinterfere with the removal of the crate and the placing of another crateon the machine.

Since the capping device is mounted to swing in an arc of a circle, thecapping tubes have a slight lateral motion in approaching and recedingfrom the cap magazines instead of moving in an exactly verticaldirection, and means are therefore provided for shifting the capmagazines horizontally suiticiently to prevent any lateralmovementbetween the capping tubes and the magazines, while the formerare in proximity to the latter. The means shown for this purposecomprise a lever l which is fulerumed on the frame of the machine andhas its upper end arranged tobe engaged by a pin p on a rock arm 7) andits lower end connected by a link 7) to the movable support or plate afor the cap magazines. The upper end of the lever P is slotted and themovement of the pin 7; in this slot swings the lever sutlieiently toshift the cap magazines horizontally to the extent required, as thecapping tubes approach and recede from the magazines. Any other suitablemeans could be employed for this purpose, and if the cap magazines werelocated so that the capping tubes would engage the tops of the magazinesjust as the arms .of the supporting levers for the capping device'reachthe horizontal planes of the pivotal axes of the levers, there wouldthen be no horizontal movement of the capping device at the time of theenincomes capping device and a proportionally greater throw of theoperating crank or lever. The construction described is thereforepreferred.

In the machine illustrated in the drawings the several suction tubes fcommunicate with a suction chamber in the capping device F, but whilethis construction is preferred, it is manifestly not essential, asseparate suction connections for the several tubes would eifect the sameresult. It will also be un derstood that a suction device for carryingthe caps from the magazines to the bottles in the manner described couldbe differently mounted and. operated, while, on the other hand, acapping device mounted and operated as described could be equipped withother means in place of the suction tubes for picking up the caps andcarrying them to the bottles.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a support for thebottles, magazines adapted to contain caps, a movable capping devicehaving a plurality of suction tubes which are adapted to take the capsfrom the magazines and to place them in the bottles, means for movingthe capping device from the cap magazines to the bottles, said suctiontubes being independently mov able on said capping device to accommodatebottles of different heights, and suction con-.

trolling means for causing said suction tubes the bottle and 'to forcethe cap into the m0uth of the bottle, means for moving the cappingdevice from the magazine to the bottle, and suction controlling meansfor causing the capping device to take a cap from the magazine, carry itto the bottle and release the cap, substantially as set forth.

3. In a bottle capping machine, the com-- bination of a support for thebottle, a magazine adapted to contalncaps, a movable suc- "tioncappingdevice having a suction tube which is adapted to take the cap from themagazine and to force the cap into the mouth of the bottle, a bottleguide which is adapted to engage the end of the bottle and center itwith regard to said suction tube, said suction tube being movable withrespect to said hottle guide, means for moving the capping device fromthe magazine to the bottle, and suction controlling means for causingthe capping device to take a cap from the magazine, carry it to thebottle and release the cap, substantially as set forth.

4:. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a support for thebottle, a magazine adapted to contain caps, a suction capping device fortaking the caps from the magazine, means for operating the cappingdevice to place the caps in the bottles, and a follower which is movedvertically in the magazine by the suction of the capping device andsupports the caps in the magazine by engagement with the magazine,substantially set forth.

In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a support for thebottle, a magazinc containing caps, a capping device, a suctionconnection for the capping device and means for controlling the suctionfor withdrawing the caps from the magazine and releasing them from thecapping device, a follower which is moved vertically in the magazine bythe suction of the capping de vice and supports the caps in the magazineby frictional engagement with the walls of the magazine, and means formoving the capping device to place the caps in the bottles,substantiallyas set forth.

6. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a support for thebottle, a magazine adapted to contain caps, a swinging capping devicefor taking the caps from the magazine, means for swinging the cappingdevice back and forth from the magazine to the bottle, said magazinebeing stationary during a considerable portion of the movement ofthecapping device toward the magazine, and means for shifting themagazine laterally as the capping device nears the end of its movementtoward the magazine to compensate for the horizontal displacement ofsaid capping device, due to its swinging movement, substantially as setforth.

7. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a support for a caseof bottles, a group of cap magazines corresponding in number to thenumber of bottles in the case, a capping device mounted to swing from aposition over the cap magazines to-a position over the bottles andhaving a yieldingly mounted suction tube for each magazine, said tubesbeing adapted to yield independently of each other, means for actuatingthe capping device, a suction connection for the capping device, a valvewhich controls the suction in the capping device, and means foractuating said valve to cause the suction tubes to take the caps fromthe magazines and release them when placed in the bottles, substantiallyas set forth.

8. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a bottle support, amagazine adapted to contain caps, a capping device for taking the capsfrom the magazine and placing them in the bottles, supporting'levers towhich said capping device is pivoted ;a tubular container for the capswhich is forth. 1

to swing back and forth from the magazine to the bottle, connectinglinks between said supporting levers whereby said levers are caused toswing together, and an oscillating operating lever connected to one ofsaid supporting levers whereby said capping device can be swung back andforth, substantially as set forth.

9; In a bottle capping machine,-a capping device for placing the caps inthe bottles comprising a yielding-suction tube, and a flaring bottleguide which is adaptedto engage the end of the bottle and center it withrelation to said suction tube, said bottle guide being also mounted toyield, substantially as set forth.

l 0.- In a bottle capping machine, a' capping device for placing thecaps in the bottles comprising: a suction tube for hold ing the caps andforcing them into the bottles, and aflaring bottle guide for engagingthe end of the bottles; said suction tube and bottle guide beingyieldablymounted to permitthem to' yie-ld together and to allow thebottle guide to yield independently of the suction tube, substantiallyas set forth.

11. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a support for thebottle, a magazine for caps comprising: a stationary tube,

removably supported in said stationary tube, a suction capping devicefor taking the caps from the container, means for operating the cappingdevice to place the caps in the bottle, and a follower which is moved 0svertically in said container. "by the suction of the capping device andsupports the caps in the container by engagement with the walls of thecontainer, substantially as set 3.05 12. In a bottle capping machine,the combination of a support for the bottle, a magaz ine for capscomprising a stationary tube and a tubular carton containing caps which:is adapted to be removably supported in said stationary tube, a cappingdevice for takingthe caps from said carton, means for operating thecapping device to place the -caps-in the-bottle, and means feeding thecaps upwardly in said carton to maintain the top of the stack of capssubstantially at the same height, substantially as set forth.

13. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a support for thebottle, a magazine for caps comprising a stationary tube, a sleeve whichis removably supported in the upper end of said tube, and a cartoncontaining caps adapted to fit in and be supported by said sleeve, asuction capping device adapted to engage with said sleeve and 12s totake caps from said carton, means for opcrating the capping device toplace the caps in the bottle, and a follower which is movable verticallyin said carton by the suction of the capping device and supports thecaps in the carton by engagement with the carton, substantially as setforth.

14. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a bottle support, amagazine adapted to contain caps, a capping device for taking the capsfrom the magazine and placing them in the bottles, supporting hollowbottom for supporting the bottom of said crate and for raising andpivotally supporting said crate to enable the same to be properlypositioned relatively to said capping device, substantially as setforth.

16. In a bottle capping machine,the,com-

,bination of a supportfor a crate containing bottles, a capping devicefor placing caps in the bottles, a second support which is normally outof engagement with the bottom of said crate, and means for moving saidsecond support into engagement with the bottom of said crate when saidcapping device is moved toward said bottles, for reinforc; ing thebottompf said crate, said means be ing adapted to pivotally hold saidsecond support in a position to support the case above said firstmentioned support to enable the crate to be properly positionedrelatively to said capping device, substantially as set forth.

17. In a bottle capping machine, the combination'of a support for acrate containing bottles, a capping device for placing caps resumegagement with the bottom of said crate for reinforcing said bottom whensaid capping device is moved downwardly into engage ment with saidbottles, and which raises said crate and pivotally supports the same toenable the crate to be properly positioned rela tively to the cappingdevice, substantially as set forth.

18. In a bottle capping machine, the combinat-ion of a support for acrate containing bottles, a capping device for placing caps in thebottles, a second support which is adapted to engage said crate andraise the same, and operating means for said capping device and saidsecond support which raise said second support when said capping de viceis lowered, whereby the weight of the capping device helps to raise saidsecond support, substantially as set forth.

19. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a" bottle support, amagazine adapted to contain caps, a movable suction capping device whichis adapted to take a cap from said magazine and to place the same intothe mouth of the bottle, means for -moving said capping device from saidmagazine to the'bottle, and a jointed folding suction pipe connected tothe capping device, whereby the air can be exhausted from said movablecapping device, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand, this 25th day of May,

FRANK B. SGHUS'IER.

Witnesses:

C. W. PARKER, A. L. MCGEE.

